Steve Smith's "in-between-the-legs" shot!

[Slog]

What do you think it? I first saw it in the SA Australia ODI series in Nov 2014 and didn't notice it much but then I've seen him play a few times more. Some examples:

https://youtu.be/VqDrHOsWIxg
https://youtu.be/HJuSeoqXk28

He even played it in the 178* in Ranchi and got a 4 and Ravi Shastri called it lucky.

But was it really luck? I've seen him play it so many times it's certainly intentional. Almost impossible to set the field against btw

Lot of people say Steve smith is not good to watch due to his unorthodox technique and some even go as far as to call his batting ugly. But personally I've always enjoyed watching him bat and innovation such as this is one of the reasons why

 

[Bilal7]

This shot is wrong on many levels, first and foremost being that it is very dangerous. Just a little finer and Smith will lose his stumps. He's much better off playing a traditional flick but then again, this might truly be unintentional.

Smith is ugly to watch but he's extremely effective at scoring big runs and winning matches for his team. The best #3 batsman in the world, at the moment, in all formats.

 

[Slog]

This shot is wrong on many levels, first and foremost being that it is very dangerous. Just a little finer and Smith will lose his stumps. He's much better off playing a traditional flick but then again, this might truly be unintentional.

Smith is ugly to watch but he's extremely effective at scoring big runs and winning matches for his team. The best #3 batsman in the world, at the moment, in all formats.

He is not ugly to watch. Its personal preference

And actually I dont think hes ever gotten out to the shot

 

[Rayyman]

I actually used to play the shot myself against tape ball.

Never knew that somebody would do it at international level.

Another reason why "Smudge" is my favorite batsman.

 

[Slog]

Compilation of some of these shots:

https://my.mixtape.moe/crfmys.mp4

 

[Bilal7]

He is not ugly to watch. Its personal preference

And actually I dont think hes ever gotten out to the shot

A Smith fan will watch him bat because he is a fan. Doesn't mean he isn't ugly. I'd watch Younis Khan and Misbah ul Haq bat no problem but a neutral wouldn't. Smith is the same case.

Yeah, he's played it well thus far but it is still a very risky shot. There isn't any real benefit to playing it rather than a more conventional flick through the leg-side either.

 

[Slog]

A Smith fan will watch him bat because he is a fan. Doesn't mean he isn't ugly. I'd watch Younis Khan and Misbah ul Haq bat no problem but a neutral wouldn't. Smith is the same case.

Yeah, he's played it well thus far but it is still a very risky shot. There isn't any real benefit to playing it rather than a more conventional flick through the leg-side either.

Its almost a guaranteed four due to the nature of the shot and speed at which it will travel

Secondly. Disturbs the bowlers' line massively and Ive notice the bowler tries to overcorrect and bowls another bad delivery next up

 

[Bilal7]

Its almost a guaranteed four due to the nature of the shot and speed at which it will travel

Secondly. Disturbs the bowlers' line massively and Ive notice the bowler tries to overcorrect and bowls another bad delivery next up

Interesting. You're the first one to rate this shot, everyone else just calls it lucky or ugly batting. Whether that be the match commentators or cricinfo commentators.

 

[Hasan123]

I agree with slog I actually enjoy watching Smith bat.

 

[Big Mac]

Compilation of some of these shots:

https://my.mixtape.moe/crfmys.mp4

Some of those are flukes but there are definitely a few that he played deliberately.

 

[Chrish]

Reckon he tries to flick the ball onside but due to his natural stance, the ball ends up between the legs sometimes

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

He has done it enough to show that at least some of the time it's intentional . Reminds of footballers like ozil who intentionally kick a volleyball into the ground to confuse a diving goalkeeper and bounce into the net. I also thought he flunked those but he has done it a fair bit in his career and like him smith does the brilliantly strange stuff

 

[Slog]

Reckon he tries to flick the ball onside but due to his natural stance, the ball ends up between the legs sometimes

Nah it's intentional esp when you see how he makes enough gap between his feet to ensure ball goes through

 

[Slog]

Interesting. You're the first one to rate this shot, everyone else just calls it lucky or ugly batting. Whether that be the match commentators or cricinfo commentators.

Some of those are flukes but there are definitely a few that he played deliberately.

I've been noticing the shot for a while now and to me it's clear the intention is there and he seems to be getting better with it. Also the way he plays it and the stance he takes which covers the angle to the stump it almost ensures that it won't hit the leg stump on the way

I enjoy the innovation and how it's disrupts fielding sides plans against him

 

[Stallion__]

Never watched him play this live.

Looks like this is his method of dealing with yorker length balls. The way he flicks his bat at the last moment suggests that he intentionally does this. Although he hasn't been in control in all cases including the one in Ranchi so Ravi was right in calling it lucky.

 

[Convict]

It's an extremely risky shot but there is logic behind it.

Just going to look extremely stupid getting out to it.

Similar to reverse cover drivers or whatever the hell they do now.

 

[Aman]

There's nothing pretty about Smith's batting, but it doesn't make him a bad batsmen. Rohit is one of the most classy batsmen around and no one would call him a great batsmen. Smith marks need to stop being offended when others call out his ungainly batting.

 

[Justcrazy]

Compilation of some of these shots:

https://my.mixtape.moe/crfmys.mp4

I think he has practiced this shot a lot , generally that area is vaccant , and he is taking advantage of that .

 

[SpiritOf1903]

He has done it enough to show that at least some of the time it's intentional . Reminds of footballers like ozil who intentionally kick a volleyball into the ground to confuse a diving goalkeeper and bounce into the net. I also thought he flunked those but he has done it a fair bit in his career and like him smith does the brilliantly strange stuff

Volleyball?

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Volleyball?

Meant to say volley , auto correct just been playing up

 

[Pollack]

Smith is ugly batsman and also a cheat. This shot however is noice to watch.Noice cheaty! Oops Smithy!